Why You Need to Pay More Attention to your Hearing

Hearing. It is something we take for granted, isn't it! Have you ever wondered what you would do should you lose your hearing or you experience some level of hearing loss? Many people overlook their hearing when it comes to having check-ups. Visiting the dentist, optician, physician, etc. is common when we think about all the appointments we need to manage our health. But we don't seem to apply the same level of consideration to our hearing.

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Once you experience any degree of hearing loss, the next step is to look at buying hearing aids to help you regain your hearing to as close to pre-damage levels as possible.

How can you reduce the chance of experiencing hearing loss from external sources?

Ear Protection

Ear Defenders, earplugs, or other headwear to help you minimize noise levels can all be helpful to keep your hearing intact. Wear them as and when you are in loud noise areas to protect your hearing and reduce noise levels to those that are safe for your ears.

Avoid Loud Noises

Not always as easy is it. However, limiting how often or how long you are close to loud noise or music can greatly impact your hearing. Noise over 80decibles can have detrimental effects on your hearing, so making a conscious effort to avoid noises in this range will help you keep your hearing in good condition and limit any loss due to loud noise.

Typical noise levels for comparison are:

            Whispering – 30dB

            General conversation – 60dB

            Moderate traffic – 70 to 85dB

            Motorbike – 90dB

            Listening to music on full volume through headphones – 100 to 110dB

            A plane taking off – 120dB

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

If you visit a place where you know the noise levels will be loud, think about where you will be standing and what is happening around you. Take a nightclub, for instance, or a concert, standing close to the music system and speakers will mean you experience the noise levels at a higher decibel than, say, someone standing at the back of the room. Making choices to stand further back or away from the source of loud noises can help you to prevent damage to your hearing in the long run.

Rest

After being in close contact with loud noises in an area for a prolonged time where there are loud noise levels, allow your ears the chance to rest and heal. Deafening sounds can be an assault on the senses and allowing your ears the quiet time they need to recover from high noise levels will serve you well in years to come.

Regular Hearing Tests

Keeping on top of regular sharing tests means you will be made aware of any changes and potential damage to your hearing sooner rather than later. Getting expert advice on how to protect your hearing from an audiologist means you can work with them to reduce or eliminate any damage before it is too late.